ELISHA AND THE SCHOOL OF PROPHETS

Main Text
2 Tm 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Daily Bread Monday - 2 Kings 6:1 Education and institution Tuesday - 2 Kings 6:3 Education and Function Wednesday - 2 Kings 9.1 Education and training Thursday - 2 Kings 6:6 Education and encouragement Friday - 2 Kings 4:36,37 Education and Experience Saturday - 2 Kings 5:26 Education and example

2 Kings 6:1-7 The company of the prophets said to Elisha, Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet. And he said, Go. 3 Then one of them said, Wont you please come with your servants?I will, Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them. They went to the Jordan and began to cut down

trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. Oh no, my lord! he cried out. It was borrowed!6 The man of God asked, Where did it fall? When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. 7 Lift it out, he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

Introduction
At various times, we see the expression 'sons of the prophets' quoted in the book of Kings. The sons or disciples of prophets as were called, they lived in Bethel, Jericho and Gilgal (2 Kings 2.3,5,7,15; 4.38). The context of these passages leaves no doubts that this expression could be understood as synonym to School of prophets. This fact serves as an example to show that religious or formal education received a special emphasis in the ancient Israel. Let's point out that this school didn't have the purpose to teach on how to predict or prophesy, for this is a divine attribution. Nevertheless, it was a living testimony that in some past far behind there was a concern, to pass on the cultural and spiritual inheritance to the next generation. Therefore, let's study in this lesson about these Schools under four perspectives.

School of Prophets. Its an educational Institution which main goal was to pass on moral and spiritual values that God had given to Israel through his WORD.

Keyword

I - THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS INSTITUTION

1. Notion of Organization and form! The text in 2 kings 6.1 shows us that this school had an infrastructure. The prophets lived in community, then they needed some facilities not only to live, but where they could be taught. 'Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet'. Practical Truth
The school of prophets had the purpose to report the moral and spiritual values that God had given to Israel through his Word

The infrastructure, in this passage, became too small and a bigger place was required. To provide a quality education, it's needed an adequate place. We can't teach before establish it. 2. Notion of Organism and function! The company of the prophets was under supervision, so, it had a spiritual leader that would mentor them. Scholars believe that these schools of prophets emerged with Samuel (1 Sm 10.5,10; 19.20) and later, they were built up with Elijah and Elisha. In 2 Kings 6.1, we verify that the disciples of the prophets were under Elishas leadership and from him they looked for guidance. Elisha wasn't only a man with supernatural gifts enabled to predict on what the future held in that time, or to perform great miracles, but he was also a prophet that had a pedagogic mission.

II THE OBJECTIVES OF THESE SCHOOLS

1 Training The text in 2 Kings 2.15,16 shows us that as part of the training, the prophets had to work under a supervision of some leader, obtaining permission for each task. In other opportunities, these sons of prophets, when already trained, could act by their own responsibility on certain duties (1 Kings 20:35). At Church, the discipleship occurs when the one who was taught, shares with others what has learned. 2 - Encouragement
What is it? Its to inspire with courage or confidence. To stimulate someone by approval or help, giving the support needed. Scholars say that Elisha didnt limit his ministry by being only a wandering preacher and neither to miracles performances. He was charged as the School of prophets principal. He was the one to provide instruction and encouragement to the students. The context of 1 and 2 Kings leaves no doubts that Elijah and Elisha were very concerned on handling on to the next generation what they had learned from the Lord. However, in these Schools, the students were encouraged to seek a better comprehension of Gods Word. There is no bigger objective to a professor than to inspire its pupils to seek excellence in the teachings!

III - THE SCHOOLS CURRICULUM

1 Scripture Following Elijah's ministry, we see that God's Word was part of those schools content and from him, Elisha received this inheritance. When Elijah was on Mount Zion, he complained that the Israelites had rejected God's covenant, torn down his altars, and put his prophets to death with the sword (1 Kings 19.10). The Word of God, particularly in the book of Deuteronomy clearly specified the inspiring principles and commandments that governed the Covenant between Jehovah and his people. The Word of God was and is this covenant. Like Elijah, Elisha was already familiar with the implications of the divine pact. It was God's word he taught to his disciples. It's the word of God we have also to teach today. 2 Experience Elijah and Elisha were very experienced men and shared with others what they had learned from God (2 Kings 2.15; 19-22; 4.1-7. 42-44), Nevertheless, in the biblical context, the experiences are never above the divine revelation left to us in its writings. The Word of God it's what judges the experiences and not otherwise. Elijah, for example, affirmed that his experiences had the Word of God as their foundation (1 Kings 18:36) The young guys must have the humility to learn from those who are more experienced and, in other hand, those that are more experienced must not despise the knowledge and wisdom of the younger. The learning process happens through an interaction and of course, experience does make part of this process. Notes

IV - THE PROPHET SCHOOL METHODOLOGY

1- Teaching through lifestyle example The company of Prophets followed Hebrews idealism concerning on education. There was a relation between the professor and the student among the community they lived. The education also happened in its oral way and the example was one of the adopted forms in this process of learning. You cannot deny that Elisha taught others by his lifestyle example. There are so many reports in the bible about Elisha's miracles in which you can realize that the learning process occurred through the observation of his actions! Gehazi, Elisha's servant, knew that his master was an example of honesty. In the New testament, Jesus Christ put himself as the greater example to be followed and Paul put himself as a model to be imitated (Mt 9.9; 1 Co 11.1)

ACTIVITY

DISCUSSION
What Happened?

INTERPRETATION
What does it mean?

APPLICATION
How can we use it?

2 Teaching through the Word of God

Elisha didn't leave anything written. What we know of him it's through bible
chroniclers. But this fact doesn't mean that the prophet didn't use the Word of God in his devotional life and also as an instrument of instruction at the Schools. The way Elisha judged the behavior of the Kings, approving or rebuking them, leaves no doubt that he used the written Word of God to teach the disciples. Elisha measured Ahabs iniquity through Jehoshaphat's piety. Ahab was a bad ruler because didn't walk on the path of God's commandment, while Jehoshaphat was honored for having an opposite or different attitude.

CONCLUSION

Through Elishas ministry we observe that these schools were dedicated to the formal education. But there, it was taught the Word of God. This fact has a great relevance to us because it demonstrates what was the main concern of the prophet in sharing the right knowledge about the truly God. The times and cultures are changing daily, and we know today the significance of a secular education. Unfortunately, this is the only education way for so many people. We cannot neglect it, but we cannot lose the sight of the dimension of the divine revelation knowledge, that is found in the bible!

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